Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-04
Steady Falling Off in LOuisiana's in
dustry.
The Duties Levied in this Country and
Others.
Sugar and MOlasSes the Chief Sources
of Revenue-DOwnW ward Tendency
of Prices-Chief Switzler's
Figures.

WASHINGTON, July 29.-Ihe chief of
the bureau of statistics, Col. Switzler,
has issued quarterly report which con-
tains among other things tables in re-
gard to sugar and molasses, showing the
imports and exports of these articles
since 1873; their production in the Uni
ted States and foreign countries for
series of years; the present tariff rates,
in leading commercial countries and the
export duties imposed by various coun-
tries on sugar. 1t appears from these
tables that the value OF imports of sugar
has ranged from Ais per cent. of the val
ne of dutiabIe imports IL 1926 to 10 per
cent. of such imports in 1875, and the
duty thereon has fuctuated from 4.75 per
cent. of all customs duties collected on
dutiable merchandise in 1925 to 2o.6 per
cent thereof in 1885. While in 1886, 27
per cent of all customs duties collected
on merchandise was derived from sugar
and molasses, the value of these articles
comprised only l3 per cent. of the value
of imports of ali merchandise and 70 per
cent. of the value of dutiable imported
merchandise.
A table is given showing the leading
sources of our customs revenue III order
of magnitude for series of years. Sugar
and molasses comprise our leading source
of revenue. Of the duties collected on
merchsndise in 1886 amounting to about
$189,000,000, 81 per cent. thereof was
collected on sugar and molasses. Manu-
facturers of wool stand next III order as
source of revenue, the duty collected
thereon amounting during the same year
to IA per cent. of all duties collected on
merchandise.
The highest annual average specific
rate of duty collected on sugar was IN
1928, when it amounted to 3.0 cents per
pound, and the lowest annual average
specific rate of duty was in 1861, when
it amounted to q cent per pound. The
highest annual average foreign cost of
sugar per pound was in 1886 when it was
6.17 cents per pound, and the lowest an
nual average cost was IN 1885 when 1t was
OF cents per pound. The foreign prices
of sugar have been tending downward
since 1881, largely caused by the worlds
increased production.
Interesting data are given In regard to
the sugar product of this and other coun-
tries, and of the origin and growth of the
sugar indurtry in Louisiana, The sugar
industry of Louisiana had its most pros
porous period just prior to the civil war
Since 1861 the industry has langulshed,
not having recovered from the disastrous
effects of the war. Then again, the
largely increased sugar production, not
only of reproducing, countries, but
of the beet producing countries of
Europe. encouraged by large bounties,
have rendered it difficult for the produc-
ers in our country to compete successful
with them in our sugar markets. Dur
ng the period just prior to the war, we
reduced about one fourth of the sugar
>nsumed in the country; during the
st calendar year, however, our consump-
On of sugar of all kinds, including cane
ct, maple, sorghum, ETC., amounted to
$4,000 tons of which we produced only
tenth.
statement is presented of the esti-
4tad consumption of sugar per capita
or a series of years in the United States,
Nreat Britain, Germany, France and
Switzerland, from which it appears that
the consumption in Great Britain was
al; in the United States 633; in Switzer-
land 31.3; in France 24.5: ard in Germany
II pounds per capita.
Sugar has been a favor1te source of
revenue. Many of the countries from
which it is exported impose high rate of
duty upon it, while those into which it is
imported have, as general rule, impos-
ed high import duties. Tables are given
from which it appears that the leading
commercial nations with the exception of
Great Britain, which is free trade ma
ton, impose higher rates of duty upon
sugar than the United States